Senate pays tribute to Ken Baugh: 'Good man', says KD Knight

Kamina Johnson Smith (file photo)... Dr Baugh stood tall in the hearts and minds of those who knew him, those who knew of him, (and) those who were cared for by him...

The Senate on Friday paid tribute to former Deputy Prime Minister and former Leader of the Opposition, Dr Ken Baugh, who passed away on September 1 at age 78.

Baugh, a medical doctor, who served the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in several capacities, was a member of the Senate between 1989 and 1993.

He also served the JLP as Chairman, General Secretary, Minister of Health and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

In her tribute, Leader of Government Business in the Senate, Kamina Johnson Smith, noted that “Since the announcement of his passing there has been absolutely nothing but unqualified, genuine and repeated words of praise and respect.

Dr Ken Baugh

“There has been no mention of detractors, no qualifications, no caveats, nothing but the purest of love and respect,” Johnson Smith added.

“Dr Baugh clearly stood tall in the hearts and minds of those who knew him, of those who knew of him, those who were cared for by him, and those who observed him while he served our country,” Johnson Smith stated.

She said Baugh was not only a statesman extraordinaire, but “When he led his charges, he led them with humility, grace, dignity and integrity.”

Johnson Smith said of Baugh, who was described as both calm and unruffled: “I keep waiting to hear, Mr President, stories of Dr Baugh losing his cool, but I might as well wait for snow to fall in Half-Way Tree…”

KD Knight

In his tribute on behalf of Opposition Senators, KD Knight, who served with Baugh in the House of Representatives, described him as being both dignified and genteel.

“He was a dignified man. As one saw him, one felt that this was a gentleman.

“I’ve never heard him raise his voice, I have never seen him appear to be upset or vexed at any time at all,” Knight said.

According to Knight, during the time he served with Baugh in the lower House, he found him to be “a good man”.

Knight said Baugh was genteel, as “He seemed so quiet, almost passive, and yet he was a man of action”.

Knight said that action was felt when Baugh served as Minister of Health.

“In my view, he made an impact in that role, and I think that the health sector is much the better off for him having served as Minister of Health,” said Knight.

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